Odisha to implement roof-top solar projects in major cities

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has planned to implement roof-top solar projects across all major cities in the state, a minister said on Tuesday.

The Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Limited (GEDCOL) would implement the project in urban areas of the state, Energy minister Pranab Prakash Das told the state assembly while replying to a written question on Tuesday.

GEDCOL and the Central Electricity Supply Utility have signed a 25-year project implementation agreement with Azure Power Mercury Private Limited to develop a grid-connected rooftop solar project in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The project, with a minimum installed capacity of four MW, will be set up on government buildings in the twin cities, said the minister.

"Further, GEDCOL is also looking forward to replicate this scheme in other towns/urban areas in the state. In the first phase, Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Rourkela towns are proposed for taking up roof-top solar photo voltaic projects on the government buildings in the ensuing years," said the minister, adding the project is scheduled to be completed by September 2017.

He informed the house that GEDCOL has successfully commissioned the full capacity of 20 MW solar power plant at Manamunda in Boudh district during June this year.

GEDCOL is also developing solar power plants of 16.5 MW capacity on the unutilised lands available inside Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd grid substations, said Das.

He said the detailed project report has been prepared through Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute.